Wednesday News, April 24

(Le Mars) -- The Governor's Traffic Safety Commission along with the Le Mars Police Department was at the Le Mars Community High School Tuesday instructing students of the dangers of driving distracted, such as using cell phones and writing text messages, and the dangers of driving intoxicated. Denny Becker explains the purpose for the instruction. Listen to

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Students had the opportunity to use a driving simulator that presented everyday common driving hazards such as a slow driving tractor, a deer jumping in front of the car, or even vehicles that fail to stop at stop signs. Students wore special goggles that would distort their vision and make it seem as though they were of .07 to .1 percent alcohol. Students were also shown sobriety tests including trying to walk a straight line, and maintain their balance, again while wearing the special goggles. Becker says the statistics are high with regard to the number of teen drivers involved with auto accidents as a result of using their cell phone or texting while driving.

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Becker says the education efforts are beneficial as students are less likely to be involved with an accident if they have had the training.

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The Traffic Safety official says they are focusing on students during this time of year when many students will be involved with proms and graduations.

Local Firefighter Joins Fort Dodge Fire Department

(Fort Dodge) Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 -- A fifth generation fire fighter with local ties has been hired by the city of Fort Dodge. 20 year old Devan Schipper, the son of Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper and grandson of the past Le Mars Fire Chief Wayne Schipper was sworn into office Monday evening when the Fort Dodge city mayor administered the oath. Schipper is weeks away from graduating from Iowa Community College with an associate's degree in Fire Science. He is a certified fire fighter. The younger Schipper served as a volunteer fire fighter with the Le Mars Fire Department since high school. Devan becomes one of five Schipper family members to service in the fire service starting back in the late 1800’s.

Pictured with Devan on the left is Asst. Fort Dodge Fire Chief Woody Wolfe and on the right of Devan is Fort Dodge Fire Chief David Luers.

Gehlen Gym To Be Named In Honor of Steve Shea

(Le Mars) -- Friends of Gehlen announced on Saturday evening that the Gehlen High School gymnasium will be named in honor of Steve Shea, the physical education teacher that passed away earlier this year. Dr. Jeremy Bollin tells how the efforts were organized.

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Bollin says it was only fitting that the gym be named for the former physical education instructor.

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A total of $7200 was raised in honor of Shea.

House Approves Justice Budget

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa House has approved a spending plan of nearly $535 million for the state justice system. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House voted to approve the plan Tuesday. The proposal includes funding for the state attorney general, state police and state prisons. The House version of this plan offers less money than the bill passed in the Democratic-majority Senate. The Senate plan provided more funds for the state attorney general's office and victimassistance services. The bill will now move back to the Senate and will likely end up in a joint committee where lawmakers from both chambers try to reach a compromise.

Agriculture Budget Given The Green Light By House

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa House has approved an agriculture budget that allocates less money than the Senate version. The Republican-majority House on Tuesday approved a plan with about $36 million from the state general fund and roughly $88 million from other funds. That's less general fund money than inthe budget passed by the Democratic-controlled Senate. The Senate plan included additional funds for water quality and soil conservation efforts. The amended plan will now go back to the Senate. Given the differences between the proposals, the bill is likely to end up in a joint conference committee where lawmakers from both chambers andparties try to work out a compromise deal.

Beef Products, Incorporated To Pay Fine For Employee Deaths

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - Beef Products Inc. has agreed to pay a $450,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of Clean Air Act regulations from a 2007 incident at a now-closed Waterloopacking plant which killed a worker and injured another. In the accident more than 1,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was released into an area occupied by workers and two became trapped. The EPA determined in an investigation that the company failed to implement its risk management plan. The company says it is working with EPA to resolve past concerns about its refrigeration systems and that includes enhancing existing controls and procedures. The company has agreed to conduct audits of its compliance with risk management regulations at the South Sioux City, Neb., facility and correct any identified problems.

U-S and China Agriculture Trade Examined

AMES, Iowa (AP) - A national commission will hold a hearing at Iowa State University to examine the opportunities and barriers for U.S. agricultural producers seeking to do business in China. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold the hearing Thursday at the Curtis Hall Auditorium. The commission was created by Congress to monitor the United States' economic relationship with China and give advice to Congress and the executive branch. It picked Iowa State as the location for its annual field hearing outside Washington because of its strengths in agriculture and other fields. Testimony is expected to examine the future of China's agricultural and food processing industries, and some of the safety and public health issues that plague them. Trade barriers andbusiness opportunities for U.S. firms will also be explored.